The founding Board Chairman for a youth-focused group, My Future, Your Future, Our Future (MYO), Prof. Douglas Boateng, is calling on corporate Ghana to help build the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) into a world-class technical institute.

He says the support will aid in pushing the university to become one of higher learning centres to help train the human resource of the country for its developmental agenda.

Prof. Boateng believes that the potential of the university in becoming a well-developed technology-based institution in Africa can only be realised when industry extends support to the institution.

During a short presentation ceremony, where the NGO donated two different set of books to support the university’s progress, the internationally certified chartered director stated “I believe you can quite easily become the MIT of at least the sub-region."

"See education as also a business and UMaT is well positioned to become a very good institution to support the mining industry, and the value addition that has to go on in mining within, at least, the sub-region."

According to Prof Boateng, Ghana is far advanced in efforts to industrialize, and the university that was established to lead the training of expertise for the mining sector needs the support of everyone, especially industry to grow.

“When you go all over the world, the industry supports their various institutions. It's about time that Ghana did that because it is in our interest to do so. Nobody's gonna do it for us. It's only Ghanaians that can do it for Ghana, and also hopefully for the sub-region and entire continent,” he said.

Elaborating on the support to the University, Prof. Boateng, who is also the Board Chair for the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) said mining has developed greatly over the years, and it is the belief of the organization, MYO, that the books can help in the training of the students there.

“Mining is huge, and they need educational institutions such as UMaT to be able to really develop the human capital to support it. They are doing well. That is why we are supporting them with the books."

"I mean, I'm not apologetic about supporting UMaT because it is in our interest; the more value we add to our raw materials, the more value you can create for the youth and also get income to support our developmental agenda,” he explained.

Elaborating on the reason behind the donation of the two books; Insights Into Strategic Sourcing and Executive Insights Into Supply Chain Management, to the University, Prof. Boateng said a well-developed mining industry has the potential to create jobs for the teeming youth, hence the decision.

“We talk about Ghana beyond aid, if we don't industrialize and we keep on shipping our raw materials, we'll never be able to solve the economic crisis that we normally face. For me, it’s about adding value to our resources, and the only way you can do that is through supply chain management and strategic sourcing. Whatever we buy has an impact on our industrialization agenda."

“We targeted the University of Mines and Technology for a reason; we believe that as a nation, and as an organization, if we are able to really industrialize the mining supply chain, we can create jobs for the youth and also earn enough income for generations to come to solve some of our industrial challenges and also developmental challenges, he explained.

ABOUT MYO

MYO is an all-inclusive, international, and non-profit organisation aimed at helping to shape and build the desired future through shared responsibility.

The ultimate goal of MYO is to connect with youth around the world, and the plan is to start with the African youth.

The vision is to become an international youth hub that is passionate, intentional, and strategic in influencing the thinking of young Africans in order to promote sustainable development on the continent and around the globe.